Statins can 'reduce miscarriage risk'

Pregnant women that take statins have a lower risk of miscarriage, according to new research.

Pregnant women that take statins have a lower risk of miscarriage, according to new research.

A study conducted at the Hospital for Special Surgery found that statins can be used to help prevent miscarriages in women with pregnancy complications.

The research, which is published in the journal of Clinical Investigation, suggested statins can be used to block an antibody produced by white blood cells in women suffering complications caused by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Statins can be used to inhibit white blood cell activation and hence APS.

Guillermina Giradi, associate scientist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, said: "Statins may work as a treatment for women with APS-induced pregnancy complications."

She also reassured that "there are a lot of women who continue to take statins through pregnancy and the drugs have not been shown to produce birth defects".

Between three per cent and seven per cent of women are thought to have the antibodies associated with APS.

Chat or Ask a Question:

If you have a question about this article or something else, visit our friendly forums & ask the AskBaby community.